Automatic handling grapple



A. G. SCHMIDT ET AL AUTOMATIC HANDLING GRAPPLE Oct. 22, 1929.

s Sheets-Shet Filed Oct. 10, 1927 A; .fj/IENTOPQfi 1945527 6. 50/01/07 6977/01? 4, M50 Ann/r140 aw/w 2% 67'7'01?MEX Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALIBERT G'. SCHMIDT ANID ARTHUR L. MEDENWALD, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CONSOLIDATED STEEL CORPORATION, OF LOS ANGIE-LES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA AUTOMATIC HANDLING GRAPPLE Application filed October 10, 1927. Serial No. 225,068. a;

Our invention relates to grapples for handling objects. In this application we present a grapple designed particularly for handling large rolls of paper. The principle of the invention may be embodied in different designs (according to the character of the objeots to be handled), and it is our intention to cover all embodiments of the invention.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a grapple in which the gripping members may be quickly adjusted to accommodate different sizes of objects.

A very common form of apparatus for handling rolls of paper in'cludesbars which must be extended into the axial opening of the roll of paper. It will be seen, therefore, that a workman must be present near the roll of paper and must extend the bars into the axial opening.

One of-the important objects of this invention is to facilitate the picking up, lifting, and transferring of rolls of paper from one point to another by means of toggle levers rather than by lifting means which requires bars or the like to be inserted into the axial openings of the rolls of paper. In our invention the rolls of paper may be very quickly picked up and conveyed since time is not re-v quired to insert bars into openings, and in our invention the services of a workman to insert the bars is obviated.

Our invention includes a frame having slides which may be extended and retracted. These slides carry jaw members which are adapted to engage the object to be picked up. The grapple is accommodated to different sizes of objects by moving the slides inward or outward relative to the frame. When a large object is to be handled, the slides are extended outward so that the jaws may extend around. the object whereafter the slides are moved inward until the jaws contact the object. It sometimes occurs that the frame is not exactly centraLover the object and a therefore one jaw will engage before the other.

It is an object of our invention to provide a means for permitting an easy centering of the frame above the object which is being gripped.

showing the slide means in extendedposition.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5+5 of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 6 is an elevational end view of the toggle taken in the direction indicated by the arrow 6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

The embodiment of the invention illus trated in the drawings has a frame 11. This frame 11, as illustrated best in Fig. 7, consists of side channels 12 to which top and bottom plates 13 and 14 are secured by suitable rivets. 15. At the central part of the frame 11 is a pair of spaced reinforcing plates 10 as shown in section in Fig. 4.. The frame '11 18 designed so as to provide a central slidereceiving opening 16. If desired, the frame- 11 may be cast from a single piece. Carried by the frame 11 in .the slide-receiving opening 16 is a pair of slide members 18. Each of the slide members 18 consists of a pair of channels 19 which are positioned as illustrated best in Fig. 7, so that the side parts of the channels engage each other at their upper ends, the channels 19 being suitably attached vided with bell-crank levers 24 which are pivotally held in place between spacers 25 and nuts 26 which are placed on the ends of each cross shaft 22. The levers 24 each have horizontal arms 27 which extend along the sides of the frame 11 toward the central part thereof. The arms 27 of each pair of levers 24 extend parallel to each other. The levers 24 also have depending arms 28 which, as illustrated best in Fig. 6, support a shaft 29. The shaft 29 carried by each pair of levers 24 carries a jaw 30 having a U-shaped positioning weight 31. The shaft 29 is pivoted with respect ,to the pairs of arms 28, and the positioning weight 31 is so arranged that the jaw 30 associated therewith will be maintained in proper engaging position regardless of the positions of the pairs of levers.

The inner swinging ends of the arms 27, as illustrated best in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, have stop members 33 secured thereto by rivets 34,

. the stop members 33 extending into positions between the side edges of the top and bottom plates 13 and 14 of the frame 11. The stop members 33 limit the swinging movement of the bell-crank levers 24 and thus prevent them from moving into inoperative positions.

Pivotally connected by pivots 37 tothe inner ends of the pairs of'horizontal arms 27 are the lower clevised ends 38 of connecting means or connecting links 39. These connecting links 39 extend upward on opposite sides of the frame 11 and are pivotally connected in pairs to cross bolts 40 of an e ualizing bar 41. The equalizing bar 41 consists of a pair of channels 42 which is secured together by suitable end webs 43 and central webs 44. The cross bolts 40 extend through the channel members 42 and are thus supported by the equalizing bar .41. The equalizing bar 41 is provided with a pair of central plates 45 which support sheaves 46 around which cables 47 of a crane, not shown, are extended. The entire grapple is supported by the cables 47. r

The centralizing bar 41 is adapted to move vertically with respect tothe frame 11 but is prevented from moving horizontally with respect to the frame 11 by vertical guides 49 which are attached to the upper part of the frame 11 and extend upward, as shown best in Fig. 5, between guide angles 50 attached to the outer webs 43. a

As shown in Figs. 4 and 7, the inner ends of the slide members 18 are provided with nuts .55 which are supported by trunnions 56 extending into openings formed in the vertical channels 19. A lead screw 57 haying right and left hand threads, as shown. is threaded through the nuts which are also provided with right and left hand threads, this lead screw being provided for the purpose of extending and retracting the slide members 18. As shown best in Figs. 3 and 4, the lead screw 57 extends through openings in the cross plates 10 and has a driven gear 59 keyed thereto in the space between the cross plates 10 I ate gear 62 being in mesh with the driven gear 59. The intermediate gear 62 is driven by a drive gear 64 which is carried by a motor shaft 65. As illustrated best in Figs. 2 and 3, the motor shaft 65 extends from a torque motor 67 supported on the top plate 13 of the frame 11. The motor shaft 65 is provided with a friction clutch 68 through which clutch the drive gear 64 is frictionally driven. The torque motor 67 is supplied with energy by electric cables 69 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

When the torque motor is operated in one direction, the slide members are extended and when it is operated in the opposite direction the slide members are retracted.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, arms 7 O are provided near the opposite ends of the frame 11 in pairs as illustrated, these arms diverging downward from the frame 11. The outer ends of the arms are provided with rollers 71 which rotate on axes parallel to the extension of the arms 70. The arms and rollers 70 and 71 provide a centering means of the inven tion.

The grapple of our invention is used as follows:

The grapple is conveyed by the crane, which is not illustrated in the drawings, to a position above the object to be handled. In Figs. 1 and 2 the object is indicated by dotted lines 80 and is shown as a roll of paper. The motor 67 is energized so that the gears are operated to turn the lead screw 57 so that the slide members 18 are extended. The gra ple is lowered into the position shown in Fig. 2. At this time the rollers 71 of the centering means engage the object 80 so that the weight of the frame 11 is supported thereby. There will be a slight downward movement of the equalizing bar 41 relative to the main frame 11, and the inner ends of the arms 27 will be swung downward until the stops 33 engage the lower plate 14. The jaw members 30 are retained in proper engaging position regardless of the positions of the bell-crank levers 24. The operator then energizes the motor 67 so that the lead screw is turned in a proper direction to retract the slide members with the end of the object. At this time the grapple will be in a central position above the object 80. When the two jaws engage the ends of the object 80, a resistance will be placed on the lead screw 57 which will be transferred to the friction clutch 68. At this time the motor 67 and the shaft may continue to rotate but the other parts of the slide member operating means will remain stationary. The operator, of course, will pay close attention to the positions of the slide members and will de-energize the motor when the jaw members '30 have engaged or have moved into positions very close to the ends of the object 80. The clutch 68 is an emergency means which will prevent any damage being done to the grapple in case the operator does not de-energize the motor immediately upon the engagement of the jaw members with the object 80.

The operator then operates the crane so that the equalizing bar 41 is moved upward. When this occurs, the inner ends of the pairs of arms 27 are moved upward and the depending arms 28 move inward so that the jaw members 30 are caused to tightly grip the ends of the object 80. It will be seen that the entire weight of the object 80 is supported through the bell-crank levers 24 and the connecting links 49 by the equalizing bar 41 so' that the object is now supported by a tong construction. The object may be conveyed to a suitable place and the grapple lowered so that the object will be released. When the object is supported from the floor, the strain is relieved fro-m the toggle and the slide members 18 may be extended so that the roll 80 is entirely released.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the grapple of this invention will tightly grip any objects to be handled thereby by a tong mechanism, and that it does not require the use of any bars or other engaging means to be inserted through openings of the object 80. The grapple of our inven-, tion is designed so that it may handle various sizes of objects. The adjustment of the grapple to different sizes of objects is quickly accomplished by operating the motor 67, and this is an important feature of the invention.

Another important feature of the invention is themeans for operating the slide members and the friction drive which prevents any parts being damaged should the operator fail to shut off the motor 67 when the jaw members have come into engagement with the object. It is also important to the invention to provide the stop members 33 which prevent the bell-crank levers 24 from moving beyond certain limits. By the provision of the stop members the bell-crank levers 24 will never move into inoperative positions. Another feature of the invention, which should be noted. is the centering means by which the entire grapple is made to freely move relative to the object so that it will occupy a centralizing position above the object and so that both jaws may properly engage the object.

We claim as our invention:

1. A grapple comprising: an equalizing bar; a frame; slide members carried by said frame; means for sliding said slide members; grip means connected to said slide members; and connecting links joined to'said equalizing bar and to said grip means.

2. A grapple comprising: an equalizing bar; a frame; guide means permitting only a relative vertical movement between said equalizing bar and said frame; slide members carried by said frame; means for sliding said slide members; gri means connccted to said slide members; and connecting links joined to said equalizing bar and to said grip means.

3. A grapple comprising: an equalizing bar; a frame; slide members carried by said frame; means including a friction clutch for sliding said slide members; grip means connected to said slide members; and connecting links joined to said equalizing bar and to said grip means. I

4:. A grapple comprising: an equalizing bar; a frame; slide members carried by said frame; means for sliding said slide members; grip means connected to said slide members; limiting means for limiting the amount of swing of said grip means relative to said slide means; and connecting links joined to said equalizing bar and to said grip means.

5. A grapple comprising: an equalizing bar; a frame; guide means permitting only a relative vertical movement between said equalizing bar and said frame; slide members carried by said frame; means for sliding said slide members; grip means connected to said slide members; limiting means for limiting the amount of swing of said grip means relative to said slide means; and connecting links joined to said equalizing bar and to said grip means. I

6. A. grapple comprising: an equalizing bar; a frame; slide members carried by said frame; means including a friction clutch for sliding said slide members; grip means connected to said slide members; limiting means for limiting the amount of swing of said grip means relative to said slide means; and connecting links joined to said equalizing bar and to said grip means.

7. A grapple comprising: an equalizing I bar; a frame; slide members carried by said frame; means for sliding said slide members; grip means connected to said slide members; connecting links oined to said equalizing bar and to said grip means; and centering means carried by said frame.

8. A grapple comprising: an equalizing bar; a frame; guide means permitting only a relative vertical movement between said equalizing bar and said frame; slide members carried by said frame; means for sliding said slide members; grip means connected to said slide members; connecting links joined to said equalizing bar and to said grip means; and centering means carried by said frame.

9. A grapple comprising: an equalizing bar; a frame; slide members carried by said frame; means for slidin said slide members; grip means connected to said slide members; limiting means for limiting the amount of swing of said grip means relative to said slide means; connecting links oined to said equalizing bar and to said grip means; and center ing means carried by said frame.

10. A grapple comprising: a frame; slide members carried by said frame, and slidable in a horizontal plane; a lead screw threadedly engaging said slide members; means for turning said lead screw for moving said slide members in opposite directions; aw members pivoted to said slide members; an equalizing member; and connecting means connected to said equalizing means and said jaw members.

11. A grapple comprising: a frame; slide members carried by said frame; a lead screw threadedly engaging said slide members; means for operating said lead screw for moving said slide members in opposite directions; jaw members pivoted to said slide members; an equalizing member; connecting links joined to said equalizing member and said jaw members; arn is carried by said frame; and rollers pivoted in said arms adapted for engagement with the object to be moved, so that said jaw members will occupy a centralizing position relative to the said object.

12. A grapple comprising: a frame; slide members carried by said frame; a lead screw threadedly engaging said slide members; a motor on said frame for turning said lead screw for moving said slide members in opposite directions; jaw members pivoted to said slide members; an equalizing member; and links connected to said equalizing member and said jaw members.

13. A grapple comprising: a frame; slide members carried by said frame; jaw members pivoted to said slide members; an equalizing member; connecting links joined to said equalizing member and jaw members; and means for automatically adjusting said slide members so that said jaw members will grip objects of different sizes.

14. A grapple comprising: a frame; slide members slidable on said frame; jaw members pivoted to said slide members; an equalizing member operable vertically On said frame; bars carried by said frame for guiding said equalizing member; links connecting said equalizing member and said jaw members; a lead screw having threaded engagement with said slide members for moving said slide mem-- bers in different directions; motor actuated means for driving said lead screw; and stop members carried by, said jaw members for holding said aw members at all times in operative positions.

15. A grapple comprising: a frame; slide members slidable on said frame; j aw members pivoted to said slide members guides attached to said frame; an equalizing member operable vertically on said guides; links connecting said jaw members and said equalizing member; nuts connected to each of said slide members; a lead screw operable in said nuts; a driving gear connected to said lead screw; an intermediate gear mounted on said frame and meshing with said driving gear; a motor on said frame having a drive shaft; a gear on said motor shaft having meshing engagement with said intermediate gear for driving said lead screw to extend and retract said slide members; and stops on said jaw members for holding the latter at all times in operative positions.

16. A grapple comprising: a frame; slide members slidably mounted on said frame; an equalizing member operable on said frame; jaw members pivoted to said slidable members; guides for vertically guiding said equalizing member on said frame; links connecting said jaw members and said equalizing member; means for adjusting said slide members so that said jaw members will grip objects of different sizes; means for selectively moving said slide members in different directions;

and stop members carried by said jaw mem-.

bers for holding said jaw members at all times in operative positions.

17. A grapple comprising: a frame; slide members mounted on said frame; an equalizing member; guides for vertically guiding said equalizing member on said frame; jaw members pivoted to said slide members; links connecting said jaw members and equalizing member; a lead screw; nuts connected to said slide members to which said lead screw is operatively connected; a driving gear connected to said lead screw; an intermediate gear mounted on said frame and having meshing engagement with said driving gear; a motor on said frame having a drive shaft; a gear on said drive shaft having meshing engagement with said intermediate gear for driving said lead screw to move said slide members to extended and retracted positions; and stops on said jaw members for holding the latter in operative positions.

18. A grapple comprising; a frame; slide members slidable horizontally on said frame; an equalizing member operable vertically on said frame; guides for guiding said equaliz ing member; jaw members pivoted to said slide members; links connecting said equalizing member and said j aw members; stop members carried by said jaw members adapted for engagement with said frame for holding said jaw members in constant operative positions;

drive means for moving said slide members into extended and retracted ositions; and

means carried by said frame or positionin said grapple relative to an object to be move so that said grapple will occupya centralizing position above the said object to elfect the proper engagement of said jaws therewith.

19.. A grapple comprlsing: a frame: slide members slidable on said frame; an e 'ualizing bar adjustable vertically on said rame; guides on said frame for guiding said equalizing bar; jaw members pivoted to said slide members; links connecting said equalizing bar and said jaw members; a lead screw operable in said frame and having two-way threaded portions; nuts mounted 'on said lead screw; drive means for saidlead screw said nuts adapted for movement by said lea screw to move said slide members into extended and retracted positions to actuate said jaw members; stops carried by said jaw members for holding said jaw members in constant operative positions; bars connected to said frame; and rollers mounted in said bars for moving said grapple to a centralizing position relative to an object to be moved.-

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles, California, this 4th day of October, 1927. v ALBERT G. SCHMIDT.

ARTHUR L. MEDENWALD. 

